Future of Hepatitis B Birth Dose Recommendation Faces CDC Vote
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
A critical shift in U.S. vaccination policy is brewing as a group of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prepares to vote on whether to scrap or delay the long-standing recommendation that every baby receive a hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth. This move, pushed by skeptics who question the universal benefit of the shot, could be the most consequential policy change since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. began remaking vaccine policy.
The hepatitis B vaccine, universally recommended for newborns since the early 1990s, is credited with dramatically reducing acute hepatitis B infections in children by 99%. The virus, which can be transmitted from mother to baby during childbirth, is incurable and can lead to liver disease and early death. According to one review, the birth dose policy has prevented more than 6 million infections and nearly 1 million hospitalizations. Liver cancer in children has disappeared in some previously high-risk communities since 1995 due to widespread vaccination efforts.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is scheduled to meet on Thursday and Friday, recently underwent significant leadership changes, with members skeptical of vaccines being appointed, including new ACIP chair, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Kirk Milhoan.
Milhoan argued that the decision to give newborns the vaccine should be based on a clinician’s assessment of the baby’s individual risk, such as whether the pregnant mother tested positive for the infection. He also cited the risk of neonatal fever associated with the "day one" shot, which can trigger additional medical interventions.
However, mainstream medical experts and data strongly counter these concerns. Dr. Sean O’Leary, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, stated that he has never seen a serious reaction or a fever associated with the hepatitis B vaccine after thousands of administered doses. Furthermore, a review of over 400 studies found no evidence that the birth dose causes any short- or long-term health problems.
Doctors warn that delaying the shot could revive deadly cases. Hepatitis B is highly infectious, capable of spreading through sexual contact, sharing drug paraphernalia, and even through microscopic amounts of blood or bodily fluids left on shared items like toothbrushes, razors, or toys.
While the CDC recommends screening all pregnant people for the virus, up to 16% are not tested and may fall through the cracks. Experts emphasize that if the mother happens to be positive, waiting a month to vaccinate establishes the infection in the baby’s liver, making prevention too late. Without vaccination, 90% of babies exposed to the virus during birth develop chronic hepatitis.
The ACIP’s recommendations hold significant weight, as they influence insurance coverage for vaccines. Furthermore, vaccine makers have expressed concerns that even small changes to the schedule could disrupt the U.S. supply of the hepatitis B vaccine, or combination vaccines, for a year or longer.
Vaccine proponent Dr. William Schaffner advises expectant parents to talk to their doctors about the strong safety profile of the three-dose vaccine series, noting that the only common adverse events reported are minor fussiness and crying. Experts like Schaffner and O'Leary stress that the universal birth dose is the best way to prevent the establishment of this incurable infection.
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Keywords: Hepatitis B Birth Dose Recommendation
Hepatitis B Birth Dose Recommendation
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